Confessions of A Millionaire ~ Part 1 Humble Beginnings

(Thanks to BlogHer PicApp for this photo.)

Marlin is just a common everyday guy who didn’t come from money or marry into it. He grew up in the Midwest on a dairy and his dad taught school.  After high school he went on to pay for college by working for a masonry construction company. After college he got some experience in his chosen trade, borrowed some money and with it went on to build his own small company.

Please note: I’m leaving out what his trade is, to protect him and his family. I really don’t think it matters anyway. I will say if he hadn’t of started his own company, but worked in his trade he would probably earn a median income. Basically everything about the guy is common and nondescript, except for his work ethic, values, and his willingness to take calculated risk.

We have shared quite a few meals and swapped stories and I have always learned something grand either by listening or by watching. One day we were sitting outside his house and he said, “So, how’s that class going where you teach people to get rich.”

I had to laugh, cause when it comes to money, we are far from rich. It’s friends, family, health and ornery cats we are rich in. I said, “Marlin, I don’t teach people to be rich. I teach people to manage their money and live below their means.”

He gut laughed and said, “You are the one that has it wrong. That is how you get rich. Do you think I’ve always lived like this?” As he looked around at his beautiful home and new cars.

He had already told me the answer a year prior.

For years while building his business he rented an old farm house for $100 a month, drove older model used cars and lived well under his means. He maintained he didn’t need a bunch of  payments staring him in the face when he had a responsibility to pay his help first. In the early days there were more than a few weeks he went without a paycheck, so he could pay his help. He watched while his some of his employees drove better cars than him and went out and bought homes. Despite the status quo, he persisted in his meager lifestyle and it paid off big time.

“Sis, I like to compare it to a bucket…”

‘A bucket I thought. Hot dang!’ I had a whole barn full of buckets. I could hardly wait to hear what he had to say next…

Stay tuned for more confessions of a millionaire.

Sis

Lessons: 1) It doesn’t matter what you came from, you can do this. 2) A strong work ethic and values matter greatly. 3) Despite the status quo, live below your means.

Tags: connfessions of a millionaire, how to get rich, how to make money and keep it, meet marlin, sacrifices to get ahead, secrets of a millionaire, Simple Money